The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming elections on Sunday. Both Janata Dal (United) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 101 seats each in the 243-member assembly. The remaining 41 seats will go to smaller allies.
Under this agreement, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, will contest 29 constituencies. The Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) of Jitan Ram Manjhi will fight for six seats, while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha led by Upendra Kushwaha will also vie for six seats.
This arrangement marks a significant shift in the political landscape as it is the first time since 2005 that the JD(U) will not contest more seats than the BJP. This change reflects the BJP’s growing influence in the state and the JD(U)’s diminished standing in Bihar politics.
BJP’s Bihar poll in-charge, Dharmendra Pradhan, mentioned that all partners reached this decision “in a cordial manner.” He expressed confidence, stating, “Bihar is ready for another NDA government.” This sentiment was echoed by Paswan, Kushwaha, and JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, who all described the discussions as “amicable and unanimous.”
Contrary to earlier reports of discontent, Jitan Ram Manjhi accepted the allocation readily, saying, “We are satisfied with what we have received… I will stay with Prime Minister Narendra Modi till my last breath.” This acceptance highlights a united front within the alliance despite previous tensions.
In the 2020 assembly polls, the JD(U) contested 115 seats, while the BJP fielded candidates in 110. The JD(U) managed to win only 43 seats compared to the BJP’s 74. This disparity strained their alliance, culminating in Nitish Kumar’s temporary exit from the NDA.
The upcoming Bihar Assembly elections will take place in two phases—on November 6 and 11—with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14. These elections are critical as they will determine the political landscape in Bihar for the next five years.
